The faith of Mary is to be admired. I want that kind of faith. The angel Gabriel, who is the chief messenger angel, came to her with the news that she had been chosen to bear the child who would be the Savior, the Messiah.
Hers was not the only angel visitation in the Christmas story. Joseph also had such an encounter, as did the shepherds. But there was an announcement that preceded all those. Several months prior, it happened to Zechariah, a priest serving in the temple. He was the husband of Mary’s cousin Elizabeth.
Luke 1:10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to [Zechariah], standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.
13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth …”
Amazing … he and his wife were chosen to be the parents of the one to be called John the Baptist, the forerunner who would prepare the way for the Messiah. Zechariah’s first response to the angel was to ask an intriguing question based on the fact that he and Elizabeth were past the child-bearing age. They were childless and had prayed many years for God to grant them a child. My guess is that Zechariah had given up on the idea. So …
Luke 1:18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
19 The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.
20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.”
Gulp!!! This was not the answer Zechariah was hoping for! I can’t talk for the next 9 months!
But hold on … when Gabriel came to tell Mary that the Holy Spirit would bless her with a child, she asked basically the same question. It went like this …
Luke 1:30 … the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.
31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
And … Mary asked a question … it was not about old age, it regarded a bigger problem … she was not married and had not “known” a man, meaning no intimacy.
Luke 1:34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
And the angel proceeded to tell her all about how this would come to pass. Woohoo!
Here’s the key. God knew that Mary asked her question in faith, whereas Zechariah had unbelief within him. Unfortunately, he had let disappointment rob him, causing him to ask a question that lacked faith. It is okay to question God … but it matters what is in your heart. With God, all things are possible.
This Christmas, may we resolve to live with the faith of Mary, rather than letting past disappointments tarnish our hope. We may have questions, yes, but it is a wonderful joy to have a great confidence in God that he will accomplish his good purposes, regardless of how unlikely or how difficult we think they might be.
Living by faith and rejoicing in the glory of Christmas!
Chaplain Mark
P.S. Today was about Mary, tomorrow is Joseph, and Wednesday is Jesus!